By Roger Nead
JULY 30, 2002
THE BOSS IS BACK:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN collects his first Hot 100 hit since 1997 this week, as "The Rising" debuts at #52. This is his first chart hit since "Secret Garden" peaked at #19 in May of '97. "The Rising" is also his third highest debut on the chart, following the double-sided hit "Human Touch/Better Days" - which debuted at #29 in March of 1992 - and "Hungry Heart" - which started at #30 in November of 1980. Here's a recap of Bruce's charted singles since his debut in 1975: "Born To Run" peaked at #23 in '75; "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" peaked at #83 in '76; "Prove It All Night" made #33 and "Badlands" hit #42, both in 1978; "Hungry Heart" reached #5 in 1980; "Fade Away" peaked at #20 in 1981; "Dancing In The Dark", his biggest hit, got to #2, and "Cover Me" #7, both in 1984; "Born In The USA" reached #9, "I'm On Fire" #6, "Glory Days" #5, and "I'm Goin' Down" peaked at #9, all in 1985; "My Hometown" hit #6 and a live version of "War," his only hit he didn't write, made #8, both in '86; in 1987, a live version of his song "Fire," which THE POINTER SISTERS took to #2, reached #46, and "Brilliant Disguise" hit #5; in 1988, "Tunnel Of Love" got to #9, and "One Step Up" made it to #13; the aforementioned double-sided hit "Human Touch/Better Days" peaked at #16 in '92, and "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" reached #68 that year; his Oscar-winning theme to the film PHILADELPHIA, "Streets Of Philadelphia," peaked at #9 in 1994; and "Secret Garden" first peaked at #63, in 1995, before re-charting in '97.
HERE'S THE POP MUSIC POOP SHOOT:
Hailie Jade becomes the youngest artist ever to appear on the R&B singles chart this week. EMINEM's 6 year-old daughter appears on his "My Dad's Gone Crazy," debuting at #74. Shady himself has three other songs on that chart. "Without Me" sits at #33, "Cleanin' Out My Closet" is the Hot Shot Debut this week at #61, and "Business" is at #82. "Closet" also debuts on the Hot 100 this week at #54.
The "craptacular" DAVE MATTHEWS BAND debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200 Albums this week. It's their third #1 album and their seventh to reach the top 5. Personally, I'd rather listen to seventy minutes of recorded flatulence than listen to DMB, but what do I know?
However, one of my favorite bands returns to the Billboard charts this week. DEF LEPPARD - yeah, go ahead and make all your pathetic insults - returns to the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart this week at #34 with their latest single "Now," from the new CD "X." Leppard has previously topped that chart several times, including: 1999's "Promise," 1993's "Stand Up (Kick Love Into Motion)," 1992's "Let's Get Rocked," and two from 1983, "Photograph" and "Rock Of Ages." Their only Hot 100 chart topper remains 1988's "Love Bites."
On the Billboard Album chart, another excellent group makes its highest debut ever this week. THE FLAMING LIPS, who are best known for their 1995 Modern Rock hit "She Don't Use Jelly," debut at #50 with their latest release "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots." The Lips' only other album to make this chart peaked way down at #108.
TOP 10 CHARTS:
U.S. Singles Chart:
1) Hot In Herre by NELLY
2) Complicated by AVRIL LAVIGNE
3) Dilemma by NELLY Featuring KELLY ROWLAND
4) I Need A Girl (Part Two) by P. DIDDY & GINUWINE
5) Hero by CHAD KROEGER Featuring JOSEY SCOTT
6) Without Me by EMINEM
7) Just A Friend 2002 by MARIO
8) Down 4 U by IRV GOTTI PRESENTS THE INC. Featuring JA RULE, ASHANTI, CHARLI BALTIMORE & VITA
9) Oh Boy by CAM'RON Featuring JUELZ SANTANA
10) I'm Gonna Be Alright by JENNIFER LOPEZ Featuring NAS
Album Chart:
1) Busted Stuff by DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
2) Nellyville by NELLY
3) The Eminem Show by EMINEM
4) By The Way by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
5) Let Go by AVRIL LAVIGNE
6) Irv Gotti Presents The Inc by VARIOUS ARTISTS
7) A Gangster And A Gentleman by STYLES
8) Ashanti by ASHANTI
9) Hard Candy by COUNTING CROWS
10) Josh Groban by JOSH GROBAN
Modern Rock Tracks:
1) By The Way by RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
2) Running Away by HOOBASTANK
3) Sweetness by JIMMY EAT WORLD
4) Warning by INCUBUS
5) She Loves Me Not by PAPA ROACH
6) Drift & Die by PUDDLE OF MUDD
7) Hate To Say I Told You So by THE HIVES
8) Aerials by SYSTEM OF A DOWN
9) Hero by CHAD KROEGER Featuring JOSEY SCOTT
10) Get Free by THE VINES
U.K. Singles Chart:
1) Anyone Of Us (Stupid Mistake) by GARETH GATES
2) Ramp! The Logical Song by SCOOTER
3) Shooting Star by FLIP 'N' FILL
4) Your Song by ELTON JOHN & ALESSANDRO SAFINA
5) Foolish by ASHANTI
6) A Little Less Conversation by ELVIS VS. JXL
7) Work It Out by BEYONCE KNOWLES
8) Hot In Herre by NELLY
9) I'm Gonna Be Alright by JENNIFER LOPEZ Featuring NAS
10) Here I Am by BRYAN ADAMS
My Own Personal Top 10 Chart. Not that anyone should care, but yes, I keep a personal weekly chart!
1) Hundred Million by TREBLE CHARGER
2) Open Your Eyes by GOLDFINGER
3) 50 In My Wallet by SMARTBOMB
4) Sweet Marie by THE ANNIVERSARY
5) Lost Cause by SCAPEGOAT WAX
6) Now by DEF LEPPARD
7) Hurricane by SOMETHING CORPORATE
8) Drop D by LIT
9) I Need A Little Love by CARLY HENNESSY
10) Algebra by SOUL HOOLIGAN
UNKNOWN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:
A few weeks back, SOMETHING CORPORATE's major-label debut LP "Leaving Through The Window" debuted at #1 on Billboard's "Heatseekers" chart. This is the chart where up-and-coming artists appear on their way to their big breakthrough. And despite the fact that the album's first single "If You C Jordan" had all the makings of a summertime smash (think LIT's 1999 hit "My Own Worst Enemy"), SOMETHING CORPORATE has become something invisible. It's a damn shame too, when crap like the ever-dull, old-timers the DAVE MATTHEWS BAND still make the top of the album chart.
Fronted by lead singer and piano player Andrew McMahon, an unusual and somewhat flamboyant teenager (he sometimes plays his piano with his feet), this unique pop/punk band cites everything from COUNTING CROWS to ELTON JOHN as influences.
Besides "Jordan" - about a high school bully unable to grow up - other tracks worth checking out include: "I Woke Up In A Car" (also the new single and video), "Hurricane," "Drunk Girl," and "Punk Rock Princess." SOMETHING CORPORATE mixes the talent of Elton with the hooks of JIMMY EAT WORLD and tosses in a bit of THE DEAD MILKMEN just for fun. And they prove not all teen bands are 'N SYNC! For more info: www.mca.com
TIME WARP:
Want to feel old? Here's a look at some charts from our past. See how many you remember!
Top 5 songs 5 Years Ago, August 2nd, 1997:
#5) "Semi-Charmed Life" by THIRD EYE BLIND. Shortly after the release of their debut CD, 3EB opened tours for superstars U2 and THE ROLLING STONES.
#4) "Mo Money, Mo Problems" by NOTORIOUS B.I.G. Featuring MASE & PUFF DADDY. Strangely, Biggie's final #1 hit sampled DIANA ROSS' "I'm Coming Out" - maybe, he was coming out of the ground?
#3) "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" by BACKSTREET BOYS. Thankfully, this hit, which peaked at #2, was as high up the chart as the boys ever got.
#2) "Bitch" by MEREDITH BROOKS. In the late 80s, this bitch was a member of THE GRACES with Go-Go Charlotte Caffey.
#1) "I'll Be Missing You" by PUFF DADDY Featuring FAITH EVANS & 112. If it weren't for HANSON, Puffy would have written five consecutive #1 hits in 1997.
Top 5 Songs 15 Years Ago, August 1st, 1987:
#5) "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" by GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE. That speeding semi-truck coming up behind your tour bus is gonna get you, too!
#4) "I Want Your Sex" by GEORGE MICHAEL. The video for this hit had to be edited three times before MTV would air it.
#3) "Alone" by HEART. This #1 hit was composed by the writers of MADONNA's "Like A Virgin" and CYNDI LAUPER's "True Colors."
#2) "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2. The band's second #1 hit in the US only made #6 in the UK.
#1) "Shakedown" by BOB SEGER. Fellow Detroit native GLENN FREY was originally asked to record this song from the soundtrack to BEVERLY HILLS COP II.
Top 5 Songs 25 Years Ago, July 30th, 1977:
#5) "Da Doo Ron Ron" by SHAUN CASSIDY. Shaun and his mother Shirley Jones are the only mother & son to both have #1 singles.
#4) "My Heart Belongs To Me" by BARBRA STREISAND. Originally recorded for Streisand's movie "A STAR IS BORN," this song was held back because Babs hated it.
#3) "Looks Like We Made It" by BARRY MANILOW. Barry began his career playing piano for BETTE MIDLER in gay bath houses.
#2) "I'm In You" by PETER FRAMPTON. While this song was at #2, Frampton was busy filming the infamous movie "SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND."
#1) "I Just Want To Be Your Everything" by ANDY GIBB. The first of three consecutive #1 hits for the youngest - and deadest - Gibb.
Top 5 Songs 35 Years Ago, July 29th, 1967:
#5) "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" by PROCOL HARUM. This song hit #1 in the U.K. band's homeland.
#4) "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by FRANKIE VALLI. The guy who wrote this oft-covered song also wrote the disco classic "Lady Marmalade."
#3) "Windy" by THE ASSOCIATION. This bubblegum pop hit was originally written as a waltz.
#2) "I Was Made To Love Her" by STEVIE WONDER. Stevie co-wrote this hit with his mother.
#1) "Light My Fire" by THE DOORS. Elektra Records forced THE DOORS to record a shorter version of this classic for a single, but radio disc jockeys preferred the longer LP version.
NEW FEATURE!!!:
Because of the great feedback I've received about my "Time Warp" segment, I've decided to add a "This Week In Pop Music History" bit. Enjoy!
July 30th, 1973: LED ZEPPELIN films their concert at New York's Madison Square Garden for the 1976 film THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME.
July 31st, 1964: Country legend JIM REEVES dies in a plane crash near Nashville. Reeves would continue to have hit singles on Billboard's Country Chart until the mid 80's!
August 1st, 1971: GEORGE HARRISON organizes THE CONCERT FOR BANGLADESH, to benefit starving people in India. The concert includes performances by ERIC CLAPTON, BADFINGER, BILLY PRESTON, and LEON RUSSELL, among others.
August 2nd, 1972: Brian Cole, bassist and singer for 60's pop group THE ASSOCIATION, whose hits include the #1's "Windy" and "Cherish," is found dead of a drug overdose.
August 3rd, 1926: Pop crooner TONY BENNETT is born.
August 4th, 1958: Pop music Bible Billboard Magazine publishes its first Hot 100 chart. This chart is still used today!
August 5th, 1980: Bad news for Utah! THE OSMONDS officially announce their break-up. Not the family, just the group!
ROCK & ROLL TRIVIA QUESTION:
Test your rock IQ and answer my question!
LAST WEEK'S ANSWER:
Of the following five pop superstars, which is the only one never to write a #1 hit? A) BOB MARLEY B)DOLLY PARTON C) DIANA ROSS D) BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN E) BARBRA STREISAND. This one must have been too easy, even my Mom answered it correctly!
She'll probably throw a tantrum, but I'm afraid Ms. Ross has never written shit. Marley wrote ERIC CLAPTON's sole #1 hit, "I Shot The Sheriff." Besides Whitney's "I Will Always Love You," Dolly also wrote her own #1 "9 to 5." The Boss wrote "Blinded By The Light," a #1 for MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND in 1977, and Barbra co-wrote her Oscar-winning "Evergreen (Love Theme From 'A Star Is Born')" also in 1977. Extra credit if you knew that all three women performed #1's and the two gents did not!
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Here's an easy one! What was the first TV theme song to top the Hot 100? (HINT: Despite being a huge cult hit, this show only ran for one year and was spun off an even more popular show!)
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